Playoff Format
What you need to know:
- Top 5 from each division, West & East, will advance to the playoffs
- Round 1 will be a single game elimination of West 4 v West 5 and East 4 v East 5
- Quarterfinal matchups will then be a best-of-three series within the division
- Semifinal matchups will be a best-of-three cross over series where the East and West will matchup
- Higher seeds will have the home ice advantage, hosting 2 of the 3 possible games
- In the event of an upset, there is NO reseed
- McCaw Cup is a single game hosted by the highest remaining seed
Key Dates:
Play in Game |
Saturday, February 21st, 2026 |
Quarterfinals |
February 23rd – March 1st, 2026 |
Semifinals |
March 2nd – March 8th, 2026 |
McCaw Cup |
Saturday, March 14th, 2026 |
How to Watch:
All OUA playoff games, including the McCaw Cup, are available to watch live on OUA.tv.
Tickets for all OUA playoff games and the McCaw Cup are sold by the host institution. Please visit the host school’s website for ticket information.
The McCaw Cup:
The OUA Women’s Hockey Championship is named in memory of Judy McCaw, D.V.M captain of the University of Guelph’s 1976 championship hockey team.
U SPORTS Berths
For the 2025-26 Season, one berth will be the McCaw Cup Champion, the McCaw Cup finalist and the University of Waterloo (host). If the University of Waterloo is the McCaw Cup Champion or finalist, then the bronze medal winner will qualify as the host school for the U SPORTS Championship.
